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Re: Sherman M4A3 76 Free French

Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2026 8:10 pm
by Jofaur86
Okay, if the voltage doesn't drop any further? Personally, I'm leaning more towards an electronics issue (ECS or something else) than a battery problem. Because even at the lowest voltage where the problem occurs, it should still work, right? Check all your electronics, see if anything is overheating, or if there are any loose connections on the cables.

Re: Sherman M4A3 76 Free French

Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2026 2:20 pm
by MrChef
Jofaur86 wrote: Wed Jan 14, 2026 6:00 pm :) Superb creation! This tank had three other companions named after French departments: Champaubert, Montmirail, and Romilly. The latter is on display in the town of Romilly-sur-Seine, despite the controversy surrounding it. Is it not the real thing, but a pale imitation? A mystery!
https://www.chars-francais.net/index.ph ... c&catid=31
http://www.romilly-aviation.fr/caron.htm
http://www.romilly-aviation.fr/char.htm
Ohhhh a mystery tank, I can get behind this. Maybe something supernatural? :O Or Ghosts? I do prefer Zombies over Vampires but lastly Werewolves...

Re: Sherman M4A3 76 Free French

Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2026 12:58 am
by Herr Dr. Professor
Panzermechaniker, You do mean Strasbourg, Sask., right? :lolno: https://townofstrasbourg.ca/ I admit that I would like to see the classic "Sentinel of the Prairie" grain elevator there.

Re: Sherman M4A3 76 Free French

Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2026 5:45 am
by Panzermechaniker
HDP. Canada is a special place. It's actually no more expensive to fly to the real Strasbourg from Toronto than Saskatchewan. Being bent over for everything is a Canadian thing,

Re: Sherman M4A3 76 Free French

Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2026 5:57 pm
by Panzermechaniker
So the tank is back after having all it's servos and re-wiring done and Clark TK-50S installed and programmed. Runs fantastic and recoil and elevation are real nice. Now it has been torn down again so I can start working on all the turret details which is going to take quite awhile. In the meantime I did some detail work on the lower hull

Here is the inside layout with the Clark board
sherman clark.jpg
sherman clark.jpg (1.35 MiB) Viewed 297 times
Added the comb device that is missing on the Taigen's transmission cover. Texturing was done with dissolved putty



comb device.jpg
comb device.jpg (868.53 KiB) Viewed 297 times
I was working on the original tow hitch but like the muzzle brake it's way oversized so it has been replaced. Since this area is going to be muddied put some texture in before messing around with the little chain for the pin

Original hitch
tow hitch with original.jpg
tow hitch with original.jpg (1.46 MiB) Viewed 297 times
and a couple of closer shots of the new tow hitch
tow hitch left.jpg
tow hitch left.jpg (678.22 KiB) Viewed 297 times
tow hitch right.jpg
tow hitch right.jpg (1018.69 KiB) Viewed 297 times

Re: Sherman M4A3 76 Free French

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2026 7:08 pm
by Panzermechaniker
After doing more research into this tank I found out that because these were in the first batch of M4A3 (76) They used the original surplus turrets from the T-23 program. Hence they did not have the welded on bars on the rear of the turret for storing the MG 50 barrels and gun and mount. So this meant a change in my original plan of having the MG and barrels stored. The only photo I have seen is with the 50 cal in the storage mount with the barrel belted to the lifting ring. So that was not going to fly as this tank is being built for battling and I did not want the MG permanently attached to just get ripped off running around the field so it will be omitted altogether. Finally got everything attached on the turret. Being a total klutz I knocked both the vane sight and searchlight off a couple of times. So as of now the vane sight is not lined up but as it will probably get knocked off first time out on the field I'll just end up with the base. Did some casting numbers but I drew the line at the 7 or 8 number ones in multiple places on the hatches,cupola ring. What tenuous grip on sanity I have would have been lost trying to line up 50+ individual tiny decals from the Archer set. Any way this is how it sits now. I wanted to very slightly the darken the Vallejo OD so made a filter out their Green Model Wash. I just need to put a varnish coat on it for the next step of slight chipping and streaking the green. This will end as a dusty tank but that is quite a few steps from now. I really do like this tank and I've never been interested in Shermans before.
shrf24.jpg
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sh24 rr.jpg
sh24 rr.jpg (1.13 MiB) Viewed 169 times
sh24 lup.jpg
sh24 lup.jpg (1.15 MiB) Viewed 169 times
Just a couple of details I added to the rear tools. The clamp and pin for the track tool and the clamp for the sledgehammer handle
sh24 rear tools.jpg
sh24 rear tools.jpg (862.36 KiB) Viewed 169 times
A shot with the 50 cal in place. Although I'm not going to use it I will detail it with chains and pins for a future project
sh with mg.jpg
sh with mg.jpg (1.39 MiB) Viewed 169 times
This is the reason why the 50 cal is superfluous to my needs as it is primarily an IR battler and will look like this once finished
sh apple.jpg
sh apple.jpg (1.11 MiB) Viewed 169 times

Re: Sherman M4A3 76 Free French

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2026 9:31 pm
by Stormbringer
That looks stunning mate I really like it :thumbup:

Re: Sherman M4A3 76 Free French

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2026 9:52 pm
by Jofaur86
:) Good evening, superb work, well done! :thumbup: What type of putty was used for the cast iron effect? ​​Please?

Re: Sherman M4A3 76 Free French

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2026 9:59 pm
by Jofaur86

Re: Sherman M4A3 76 Free French

Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2026 12:34 am
by ColemanCollector
The cast texture on the hullnis righteous! You mention putting on casting numbers. Could you go over your process please. Sounds interesting!

Mike.